Multi-method dating reveals 200 ka of Middle Palaeolithic occupation at Maras rock shelter, Rhône Valley, France
The emergence of the Middle Palaeolithic, and its variability over time and space are key questions in the field of prehistoric archaeology. Many sites have been documented in the south-eastern margins of the Massif central and the middle Rhône valley, a migration path that connects Northern Europe with the Mediterranean. Well-dated, long stratigraphic sequences are essential to understand Neanderthals dynamics and demise, and potential interactions with Homo sapiens in the area, such as the one displayed at the Maras rock shelter ("Abri du Maras"). The site is characterised by exceptional preservation of archaeological remains, including bones dated using radiocarbon (<sup>14</sup>C) and teeth using electron spin resonance combined with uranium series (ESR/U-series). Optically stimulated luminescence was used to date the sedimentary deposits. By combining the new ages with previous ones using Bayesian modelling, we are able to clarify the occupation time over a period spanning 200,000 years. Between ca. 250 and 40 ka, the site has been used as a long-term residence by Neanderthals, specifically during three interglacial periods: first during marine isotopic stage (MIS) 7, between 247 ± 34 and 223 ± 33 ka, and then recurrently during MIS 5 (between 127 ± 17 and 90 ± 9 ka) and MIS 3 (up to 39,280 cal BP).
Authors
- Marie‐Hélène Moncel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0398-2316)
- Jean‐Jacques Hublin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6283-8114)
- Maïlys Richard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3252-1444)
- Miren del Val (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2151-8629)
- Helen Fewlass (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9093-3490)
- Virginie Sinet‐Mathiot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3228-5824)
- Edwige Pons‐Branchu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7941-3144)
- Simon Puaud
- Philippe Lanos
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Collège de France (FR)
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Université Bordeaux Montaigne (FR)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques (FR)
- Géosciences Rennes (FR)
- Archéologie des Amériques (FR)
- Ministère de la Culture (FR)
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie (FR)
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (FR)
- CEA Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (FR)
- Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire (FR)
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Nantes Université (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-09-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69380-w
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 29.75
Funders
- Fondation Fyssen
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie